Method of enhancing the learning of innovation

Abstract

A method of enhancing learning at a learning institution about innovation and the protection of intellectual property comprises establishing a course in innovation and/or intellectual property protection at the learning institution. Students desiring to register for the course at the learning institution may be required to assign to an entity designated by the learning institution any intellectual property right that student might achieve by reason of that student being allowed register to take the course. Students constituting a class taking the course conceive an innovation and learn about innovation and how to protect innovative intellectual property by participating in a patent application (or other intellectual property application) that is filed at a patenting authority on the innovation conceived as a result of the class taking the course being offered at the learning institute, and at least one student registered for the course is a named inventor on the application.

1 . A method of enhancing learning at a learning institution about innovation and the protection of intellectual property, said method comprising:
 establishing a course in innovation and/or intellectual property protection at the learning institution;   having a student desiring to register for the course at the learning institution assign to an entity designated by the learning institution an intellectual property right that student might otherwise achieve by reason of that student taking the course;   appointing an instructor for the course; and   filing a patent application based on an idea conceived as a result of the course being offered at the learning institution, at least one student registered for the course being a named inventor on the application.   
   
   
       2 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the entity comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the learning institution, (ii) the instructor, (iii) an entity having an agreement with the learning institution and (iv) an entity having an agreement with the instructor. 
   
   
       3 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein having a student assign an intellectual property right comprises having the student enter a contract to assign to the entity designated by the learning institution any intellectual property right that student might achieve by reason of that student being allowed register to take the course 
   
   
       4 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the scholastic grade awarded the student registered for the course is based upon that student's contribution towards the filing of the patent application. 
   
   
       5 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 4 , wherein the student registered for the course is a named inventor of the patent application filed. 
   
   
       6 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructor uses a virtual patent application as a part of the teaching of the course, said virtual patent application comprising an application that is substantially similar to an actual patent application that has been at least partially prosecuted at a Patent Office. 
   
   
       7 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the learning institution publicizes that patent applications with a student registered for the course being a named inventor are filed as part of the curriculum of the course. 
   
   
       8 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein costs associated with the course are at least partially offset by at least one of (i) income from intellectual property arising from the course being established at the learning institution; (ii) a fee paid by the student to register for the course; (iii) a supplemental fee paid by the student to register for the course; and (iv) a sponsor. 
   
   
       9 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructor proposes an innovation topic as part of the course and wherein the patent application is related to the innovation topic proposed by the instructor. 
   
   
       10 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructor uses a surrogate pending patent application as a part of the teaching of the course, said surrogate pending patent application comprising at least one of (i) a patent application arising from the course prior to the student registering and that is still pending at a Patent Office and (ii) a patent application in a prior art arena of interest to the student and that is still pending at a Patent Office. 
   
   
       11 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the student agrees to hold confidential ideas and work product arising from that student taking that course for at least until a patent application disclosing the ideas and work product is filed. 
   
   
       12 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein the learning institution makes the course available under an agreement between the learning institution and the entity. 
   
   
       13 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 13 , wherein the learning institution makes the course available under a license agreement between the learning institution and the entity, and wherein the entity grants rights to the learning institution in return for consideration received by the entity from the learning institution. 
   
   
       14 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the entity and the learning institution controls the patent application and controls any patent that issues from that patent application or that claims priority to that patent application. 
   
   
       15 . A course in innovation and/or the intellectual property protection of innovation offered by a learning institution, wherein learning about innovation and the protection of intellectual property by a student taking the course is enhanced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       16 . A course in innovation and/or the intellectual property in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the learning institution publicizes the course in order to enhance at least one of student recruitment, student retention, revenues, reputation, endowment, award of grants and sponsorship. 
   
   
       17 . A method of enhancing learning at a learning institution about innovation and the protection of intellectual property, said method comprising:
 establishing a course in innovation and/or intellectual property protection at the learning institution;   using a virtual patent application as a part of the teaching of the course;   said virtual patent application comprising an application that is substantially similar to an actual patent application that has been at least partially prosecuted at a Patent Office; and   basing at least a part of the scholastic grade awarded a student registered for the course upon that student's completion of assignments based on the virtual patent application.   
   
   
       18 . A method of enhancing learning at a learning institution about innovation and the protection of intellectual property, said method comprising:
 establishing a course in innovation and/or intellectual property protection at the learning institution;   appointing an instructor for the course;   filing a patent application based on an idea conceived by a student as a result of the student taking the course at the learning institution; and   wherein at least a part of the scholastic grade awarded the student for the course is based upon that student's contribution towards the filing of the patent application.   
   
   
       19 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 18 , wherein the instructor uses a virtual patent application as a part of the teaching of the course, said virtual patent application comprising an application that is substantially similar to an actual patent application that has been at least partially prosecuted at a Patent Office. 
   
   
       20 . The method of enhancing learning according to  claim 18  wherein said method includes having a student desiring to register for the course at the learning institution assign to an entity designated by the learning institution an intellectual property right that student might otherwise achieve by reason of that student taking the course.